Join a daily celebration of poetry and the arts. This blog gives voice to the academics, the arts, creativity, expression and the pursuit of TRUTH. All art forms, all academic interests are timeless reflections and revelations of the human condition. Passion, poetry and the arts fuel the creative fires that move me to expression and deep gratitude. My published book of poems, THE WIND AND THE WILLOW is available at Barnes and Noble and online booksellers nationally and internationally.

About Me

Rose Marie Raccioppi, MS, FABI, is an award winning and honored master educator, an innovative and pioneering sound therapist, poet laureate, artist, advocate, activist, holding graduate degrees with honors in education and psychology. Her published book of poetry, "The Wind and the Willow," has been well received nationally and internationally. Pub. Date: June 2008, ISBN-13:9781604744545. She has received organizational, local, state and national honors for her exemplary services to children and families with special educational needs, and for her innovative development in the healing arts. She has been internationally recognized for her inspired poetry and art. She is presently designated, Poet Laureate, Orangetown, New York. Rose Marie is an active blogger, ever ready to share and expand what supports development, potential, well being, creativity and artistry. Rose Marie has been in private practice since 1983 as an educational consultant and sound therapist: http://www.apogeelearning.com
Indeed LIFE with PURPOSE.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

I was invited to attend the Fletcher Crossman, Headscapes, Exhibit at Saint Thomas Aquinas College Art Gallery, Sparkill, New York. As Poet Laureate, Orangetown, New York, and an artist, I received this invitation, as an honored guest, to join in on the art and poetry program planned for students. Arriving early provided an opportunity for me to sit quietly in the gallery, taking in the impressions of each image in a private sea of silence and solitude. Selected here are three of the works on exhibit. And so these words put forth...

The eyes lifted high as though a priest during consecration. A sullen look across the pale face. The skin as if it were a template. The eyes as if silently saying, “ Father into your hands I command my soul.” The colors move me: the Reds, the Greens, and the Blues. Thinking about the passion in a different way.

“Agony and pain”- Emin.

Agony and pain is what I feel looking down from the tree they nailed me to. The soldiers jeer at me. As I look down, I see my mother. A pure soul. And my brother, the one I love. Take care of one another. Mother, behold your son; son, behold your mother.

“Giants and men”- Nelson

I stand tall before giants and men like David in times of old: with a sling and a stone.

“I do not wait”- Fletch.

I do not wait for man or beast. The stern face of the man. The eyes full of anger and rage. His lips bleeding as if he were in a fight. The sound of the bell. The beat of his heart. And the final blow.

In this space of time be it knownThere are realms beyond what is shownIn this space of time need and visions to shareThere are realms beyond all given careIn this space of time this moment present and each moment pastThere are realms ever so near, ever so vastIn this space of time there is the SELF to be claimedThere are realms beyond those held and those so namedIn this space of time haunts and echoes to be newly heardThere are realms of Presence and the Sacred WordThe sounding accord of harmonics withinBeyond the clamor, beyond the dinThe accord of heart, soul and visions newly clearThis of Faith, of Love, of Presence, in banishment of fear.

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Shakespeare be my brother this very nightAs words free and in frolic take flightWords of anguish, fear and painWords of illusion and the inaneWords to claim my longings and desireWords to breathe these thoughts of fireFor words within the mind conceivedCreate the world for us perceivedRecorded in prose, poetry and rhymeTo give purpose to life's gift of timeWords to serve intent and pleasureHeld in journals as one's life treasureWords of moments present, moments pastAnd within a recorded history they be castOf all the words I in quest to lovingly heedSilent utterances of TRUTH as sacred creed.

Rose Marie RaccioppiPoet Laureate Orangetown, New York

"It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves."William Shakespeare

And in reflection:

The more I read Shakespeare, the more I realize that in a poet's heart is ever the search for understanding, beauty and purpose. If we are open to explore the poet's pondering of heart, we will hear the questing echoes of soul.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

demanding be the many tasks at handa perception, a plan, action in commandintention and focus be the alert of the daythe gift of time and a knowing provide the wayhow sweet when vision is newly held clearwhen the din of despair is silenced and gone the fearhow comforting is this moment's embracewhen within heart, love the soul does placehow knowing is this Spirit's callwhen resounding with the grace of ALLthe clamor and chaos hushed they befelt is the gentle peace deep within methe day by Creation's plan in blessings unfold

Monday, October 7, 2013

We are ever in deliverance. The prizes and treasures we gather, the
disappointments and pain we endure, define our deliverance onto SELF. The SELF
as Spirit, as Eternity, as Love, as Freedom, offered as poetic encounters, a
thirty year journey to wellness. And so these echoes of heart, the deliverance onto SELF... the Phoenix Rising.

When I first heard "The Greatest Love of All," a song written by Michael Masser and Linda Creed, it was at the time I was ravaged by the clutches of cancer. The words validated for me what was silently within my very soul. With deep faith and conviction, I chose to fully live the words, and since 1983 have been cancer free and have not wavered from the message that allowed me to once again soar with the fullness of life. And so my life's work continues to unfold... as the Greatest Love Of All ...

And so...I proclaimed...

Bequeath Your Presence

Within this soul

love's call though silent

resounds with longing

Within this heart

love's call though silent

echoes a lament

Within this stillness

the resounding of what once was

Within the emptiness

the fullness of despair

Are these the sensibilities absent of God's care

Ravage not this body and spirit

Ravage not this faith and trust

Bequeath Your Presence

Cancer no more.

And so a BARD I BE...

Yes, I a BARD of modern day calling

to convey the glory of Being

to live the majesty of Aspiration

to know the wondrous in Revelation

in all moments present

in Gratitude.

The deepest of introspection, the willingness to unveil, unmask... no more pretense, a SELF in revelation.

As one commits to a purpose to a path ... questions are raised... and I ask...

Who

Who heeds the words of this poetWho listens to these echoes of heartWho feels the yearnings and the fireWho sees the vision held clear

Is it the wind that whispers its own songIs it the sun that warms and nourishesIs it the moon that sheds its lightIs it the star that guides our wayIs it the stranger who extends a handIs it the child who gives a knowing smileIs it the soul in its moment of callIs it God in all present grace

Who heeds the words of this poetWho listens to these echoes of heartWho feels the yearnings and the fireWho sees the vision held clear.

So too, is asked ...

What Be this Poet's Plea

What be this poet's pleaBut to honor God's giftsBe they of land, sky, ocean or seaTo know that All and One are given in graceAnd in gratitude be our care, our loving embraceStars and galaxies, vistas of splendor and gloryWithin the secrets, the miracles of Creation's storyStardust in waves of time and spaceFrom which our spirit we to traceLight beholden within our heartFrom where love has its primal startKnown be the fire of the Creator's flameAnd we the Presence of All so namedWords to hold to the knowing of heart and soulReverent be our gratitude, our calling tollAnd what be this poet's pleaBut to honor God's giftsBe they of land, sky, ocean or sea.

And what BE Woman but one ...

Holding to the Wonder

Aware of the Omnipresent

Feeling the Marvel

Living the Aspiration

Fulfilling Need

Words to define what it is to be a womanCome from the special meaning of who we areWith grace we receive and provide the ultimate givingWith love we nurtureWith question we pursueWith pain we give birth and revel in its miracleWith persistence we provideWe are blessed to beThe receiver and giver of life.

Guide books on self development, meditative practices, all to bring SELF to appraise... to this I respond...

Appraise

Appraise well this treasure of timeThe endowment of days made minePearls of wisdom shall there beGolden moments of alchemyGems of gratitude a collection fairBlessings priceless coins of careAppraise well this treasure of timeMeasures weighed upon a life line.

And to those disciplines that speak of the I AM...

I AM

I AM the ALL of ALLthe breath of BEINGthe inhalation the exhalationthe rippling waters of the streamthe cresting wave of the oceanthe rising and setting sunthe ebb and flow of the tidesthe seed the flower in bloomthe passion the rapture all sensibilitiesI AM WOMANever in receipt ever in giving.

The words, the visions, the impressions we hold in mind, in body, in heart, ever resound. It is our choice to affirm, negate, validate, invalidate, accept, deny, each of these callings. Yes, reveal...

Unfold...

Reflections, aspirations, expressions and desireWords speak of life, passion, flame and fireA gift of life now ever to be knownBy the words of heart you have shownAnd others may now be freed to revealWhat in their hearts they yet concealMany a story there is to be toldFrom days past a page to unfold.

Pages read, books completed, and the question, the quest, YOURSELF... The letters reveal the query...

what Yearnings have you answeredwhat Oneness do you seekwhat Unity have you livedwhat Revelations have you welcomedwhat Spirit makes itself knownwhat Eternal quest calls to your heartwhat Love have you embracedwhat Freedom do you live...

Another has proclaimed...

While with an eye made quiet by the powerOf harmony, and the deep power of joy,We see into the life of things.

William Wordsworth (7 April 1770 – 23 April 1850) was a major English Romantic poetCOMPOSED A FEW MILES ABOVE TINTERN ABBEY, ON REVISITING THE BANKS OF THE WYE DURING A TOUR. JULY 13, 1798

As I read these words of William Wordsworth, the depths of poetry were revealed, the mission of my life's work as a sound therapist, and my passion for poetic expression, became ONE. HARMONY be the questing state of BEING. This the APOGEE Paradigm, defined when I was but seven years of age as my calling, my destiny. The poet, the educator, the artist, the advocate, the activist, the exploration, the discovery, the receiving, the giving, the offerings... each and all to bring...

HARMONY...

Be they of...

HeartAspirationRevelationManifestationOmnipresenceNeedYielding ... to the light, the grace, the resounding pulse of Life itself.

Words upon a page, posted on the web... ah, yes...

The Echoing Word

'tis the joy of expression to sharemet by hearts that feel the mission of carea word, a thought, a moment's knowing wisethe daunting shall meet its delivered demiseour heart's calling calling be it ever heardmay LOVE ~ LOVE be the echoing word.

Yet, heard be the doubts and fears...

Alchemy to Ring

Man in freedom so born is heYet shackled he sets himself to be

Oppression dark upon heart yet be lainThe echoes of emotion still held profaneThe mind to silence daunting echoes of time pastAnd free the self from binding chains castMemory called to free mind, heart and soulAlchemy to ring its welcomed toll.

Self-help, the law of attraction, exercise, meditation, body work, yoga... all to bring wellness and light... Robert Schuman, Composer, 1810-1856, wrote: "To send light into the darkness of men's hearts - such is the duty of the artist."

Light Beholden

Stars and galaxies, vistas of splendor and gloryWithin the secrets, the miracles of Creation's storyStardust in waves of time and spaceFrom which our spirit we to traceLight beholden within our heartFrom where love has its primal startKnown be the fire of the Creator's flameAnd we the Presence of All so named.

And as the beauty be perceived, the cacophony, the noise, the clamor of the news, yet resounds... How does one reconcile the discord... the question beckons the answer...

I, In FAITH

Conspiracy, corruption and travailBeyond aberration THE WORD to prevailJust as the night pursues the light of daySo too, ever present be the path, THE WAYIllusions cast as truths to be revealedTHE WORD to cast light on deceptions concealedAnd known to us be our soul's desireThe PHOENIX to rise from passion's fireFrom the depths of our knowing heartTRUTH, LOVE, PEACE, MERCY, BEAUTY, shan't departThis I in FAITH claim to be trueThis the GRACE OF GOD on to You.

We may well be besieged by a ... Thunderous sounding... a lightning... an awakening...

Thunderous Sounding

what be this awakening sweetwhere grace and intention meetwhat be this thunderous sounding in heartwhere all that is has its knowing startwhat be this soaring of spirit and soulwhere vision is one with heart and goalthis be the Self, the TRUTH to embracewhere all that is blessed in knowing I placewhere judgment, reprisal, illusion and demisebe cast aside by Spirit, an awareness wisebeyond the drama and lies yet heardis the beloved glory of the divine WORDjoyful gratitude to fill my daysso be the embodiment of SELF in PRAISE.

In embrace of liberation... in the majestic moments of meditation ...

The Wind and The Willow...

The Windall pervadingfreeone with all directionThe Willowrooted ever in searchbranch and leaf so humbly bendholding to the windthe lightand the unseen PresenceWind and Willow, so I amthought, mind and spiritall pervadingfreeone with all directionholding to the unseen Presence.

an arrivalfrom the din of judgmentsfrom the cacophony of opinionsfrom haunting doubts and fearsfrom care coupled with resentment

an arrivalto the blooms of Summerto the colors of Fallto the surrender of Winterto the delights of Spring

an arrivalto the majesty of the heavensto the divinity of the moon and starsto the splendor of the dawning dayto the light behind the storm

an arrivalto the wonders of BEINGto the exploration of causeto the power of intentto the resolves of time

an arrivalto the embrace of SELFto the WORD knownto the gifts of CREATIONto the SOUL revealed.

We are the WEAVERS... Threads of Time...

we gave a cry and all rejoiced for this our birth completewe are our first steps greeted with open armsour first word that brought an admiring smile...

Threads of Time

trace the years and their memories await anewa montage, a kaleidoscope, of one's life viewsounds, impressions, of place time and moments sweetwhere our dreams and our days come to meetpraise, punishment, joy and pain come to definea life known as rightly yours, a life lived as mineand what brings reason to pause this very daybut the wondrous Creation given by Life along its waya sculpture unveiled and all in AWE and PRAISEfor what each has brought to their ennobled daysand then a painting, a poem, an endearing embraceupon a time line of memories now they to placedecades of moons have brought mystery and delightmagical be this waxing and waning of Creation's lightand so this heart, this soul, in time's grasp and claimbe held in the spirit and glory of our Creator's namebe it of yesterdays or days yet, and dreams enfoldeach new gaze, a breath, a sigh, be this our story toldwith threads of time Life's cloak we weavelet it BE the warp and weft of Divinity conceived.

And there may well be many a tangled thread, webs of thought, restlessness..

The Mask

What be this restlessness I feel

These impressions but illusions real

See behind the mask beyond the veil

See the denied pain that is yet to prevail

The masquerade and pretense held to conceal

The SELF that TRUTH alone is to reveal

Reveal, I hear this night commandCloak not the quiver of shadow close at handRemove pretense and the mask donned to concealThe TRUTH, the deep knowing, this knowing realConfront and resolve, the petition summons a callBeyond all consideration, TRUTH to lay bear ALLTo the plea of this petition I to heedAnd TRUTH, 'tis ever the rightful creed.

We need strength and renewed faith to Give Way...

Give Way

webs of thought, echoes of time soundthe din of shocked sensibilitieswhat was, now is once morehush, hush be the cry, the pleafree what is trapped deep within meshed these shackles of shadow and despairheed the cry for resolve and Creation's carelisten, listen, and there shall be heardthe search, the want of the guiding WORDlet there be a command of self whole and truelet the bonds of torment give way to light ever new.

We need listen... deeply listen... Wisdom of All be known...

Wisdom of All

Oh how the mind conceives the thoughtWith restlessness your heart is wroughtFor there is a just and kingly goalDistant yet touching your crying soulBe burdened not by task and deedLest you be lost to the greater creedInspired by self and the knowing withinShall you pass the haunt, the doom of the dinListen dear child to thy self sovereign and wiseHeed not to temptation, deception and liesFor it is the tear of joy that you shall weepWhen the Promise you vow, you do keepAnd when you reach and court the dreamWith God's love stand thou supremeDeception takes not your abiding soulYou have reached a kingly goalAs many may doubt and may berateYou shall prevail for love is thy fateGuide the children, know their callWith God's tender love and wisdom of all.

So be these offerings, given in Celebration of SELF... the SELF of you, and you and you and you... as the Poet's Tidings...

The Poet's Tidings

Moments of memory, treasure be mine

The troves, the garlands, the gems of time

Each hour, each day, each year now past

A journey, a questing, a destiny cast

Awaken awaken to the vision yet held

Destiny and purpose in glory meld

The sounding heart with yearning real

Reverie and passion beyond conceal

The Muse calls to sound its claim

Beauty and Truth the poet to name

A blessed grace be it known, be it heard

'Tis the poet's tidings in heartfelt word.

In closing...

"The work of art must seize upon you, wrap you up in itself and carry you away. It is the means by which the artist conveys his passion. It is the current which he puts forth, which sweeps you along in his passion. The pain passes, the beauty remains." Pierre-Auguste Renoir